How to Prepare?

VISA
If you are coming from a country, which is exempted from the visa requirement to enter Turkey, you do not have to apply to the Turkish Consulates for any kind of visa. You may directly come to Turkey without obtaining a visa including student visa.

However, if you are coming from a country, which is not exempted from the visa requirement to enter Turkey, you have to apply for any kind of visa prior to coming to Bilkent, Turkey. You should visit the Turkish Consulate in your country to apply for a visa as soon as you receive your admission confirmation from Bilkent University.

It is very important that you confirm your country’s visa regime with Turkey via the Turkish Consulate in your country.

HEALTH INSURANCE
It is mandatory for international students to register to the General Health Insurance (GHI) system after registering to the university. The fee for the GHI is approximately 500 – 700 Turkish Liras (TL) per year.

Bilkent University also has a well-equipped Student Health Center providing care for all students with their routine health problems and minor injuries. Please visit http://www.bilkent.edu/bilkent/health-service/ for detailed information.

WHAT TO BRING
The weather in Turkey varies, as it is a country with four seasons. From mid-October to mid-March, the weather is cold, so you should bring your winter coat and boots, but you also bring light clothing items, as it gets quite warm from June to late September.

RECOMMENDED READINGA Brief History of Ankara by Toni Cross and Gary Leiser,
Culture Shock!: Turkey: A survival guide to customs and etiquette by Arın Bayraktaroğlu